tremendous amount of restraint

An 18-month old baby girl was killed in a gunfight between a man and the police in California. Read about it here...

This is a really tragic story on many levels. First, it shows the kind of spineless, cowardly humans that pass for "men" in our country - hiding behind your baby while firing shots at police - nice work! Secondly, it shows what passes for "a tremendous amount of restraint". This idiot was in a standoff with the police. He fired in the air. He fired and hit one officer in the shoulder. Then, aparently, every cop out there emptied their clip into him.

I don't want to second-guess these guys - and certainly we should remember that they have families too and should protect themselves. But do you really need a dozen guys taking target practice on a suspect holding a baby? How about a sniper? How about designating one guy to do the shooting at least?

I think the lack of restraint is one of the most obvious symptoms of a nation that's turned its back on God and the teachings of Christ. When I read stories like this, I get so angry and frustrated at the culture we've allowed to surround us. The flesh says fight back! The feelings of outrage and bitterness seem unavoidable. And I'm just reading it in the news - imagine what that little girl's mother feels like!

Yet as Christians, we are called to self-control. Not only called to it, we're indwelled by it according to Paul - fruit of the Spirit and all. In cases like this and 9/11 and the London bombings, justice is important - but so is self-control. We hear horror stories of heinous abuses in Abu Garaib and Guantanamo.

Alex de Tocqueville said "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Part of being good is displaying the highest level of self-control in the face of our enemies.

How does that look on a personal level? Is it possible to "turn the other cheek"? Is that what we're supposed to do? If the mother of this little girl wants to respond in a godly way, what is she to do?